Identifying device.



llIIlI Ill immuun Patented 1an. 28, |902. I. L. WILBER.

`lm-znl'ruwme DEVICE.

(Application filed Nov. 16, 1900.)

wm a

.Iiiilil M "nu" y"ffm, lililiwilhnul UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC L. VVILBER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

lDENTlFYlNG DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,173, dated January 28, 1902.

Application filed November 16, 1900. Serial No. 36,724. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ISAAC L. WILBER, of New Dorchester, Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Identifying Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this present invention is to provide a device which may be attached to a key-ring to contain identifying memoranda in order that the keys if lost may be returned to the owner, or relatives` or friends of the owner may be notified in case of an accident to the latter.

A stili further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character specified which shall be in the nature of a receptacle adapted to receive a paper slip on which are written such data as may be necessary or convenient, so that a new slip may be substituted for the old one in the event of change of address of the owner.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the receptacle that it will be small, and thereby occupy but little room in the pocket, and to likewise be light, so as to add no material weight to the key-ring.

To these ends the invention consists of an identifying device substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

On the drawings, Figure 1 represents one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 represents another view of the same with the outer section removed to show the identifying strip of paper coiled Within the inner section. Fig.` 3 represents a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 represents in detail the identifying-strip with the memoranda thereon.

As stated, the receptacle consists of two sections a and b, each of which is shown as cylindrical and tubular. The section a has a closed end a', the section b having the closed end b', so that the section a may be nested or telescoped within the section b, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. I prefer that the two sections should fit snugly within each other to prevent, so far as possible, the access of moisture to the identifying-strip conta-ined within the receptacle. The closed end a of the section a is apertured to'receive the end c' of an eye c, the said end c being upset, as shown,

4 so as to secure the eye rigidly to the section c. Thus the section a may be'attached loosely to a key-ring d in the same manner 'that a key is placed thereon. It will be observed thatthe section c is somewhat shorter than the section b, the purpose of this being that a strip of paper may beused of such width that when it is coiled and placed within the section it will project out of the open endthereof to be easily grasped by the fingers.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a strip e of paper and have indicated thereon such memoranda as will ,be found useful in notifying the finder of the keys where the owner resides or his place of business, or so that in case of an accident to the person carrying the identiiier the friends or relatives may be notied.

The words These keys are the property of,

Finder will receive suitable reward by returning keys to above address, and Incase of accident notify may be all printed upon the strip with proper spaces for the insertion of the name and address of the person carryingthe receptacle and the name and address of the person to be notified in case of an accident. Y

In order to yieldingly secure the two sections of the receptacle together and alsoto prevent the outer section from being forced over the inner section to such an extent as to bend or crumple the identifying-strip contained therein, the inner section is provided with a lug or [projection a2 near its closed end and the outer section is provided with a circumferential groove orbead b2 near its open end. The lip b-is yielding and may be split for this purpose, if desired, so that when the outer section'is slipped over the inner section the lip b3 will yield sufficiently to enable the projection orlug a2 to enter the groove b2.

I have shown the outer section ashaving engraved thereon the word Identifier to indicate to the nder of the keys thecharacter of the device attached to the key-ring.

When the lip b3 is not split, it is so formed that there will be sufficient space between it and the section c to permit the portion of the lip which comes in contact with the lug a2 to be pressed outward and snap over said lug. The outer section b is of a length substantially equal to or greater than that of the inner section a, and the lug a2 is located near the upper end of the section a, while the IOO Vgroove or bead b2 is formed near the upper end of the outer section b. Therefore since the outer section covers substantially the entire length of the inner section it enables the two sections to be readily removed even when the lug-and-groove connection referred to is quite a strong one; The length of the outer section b enables it to be so grasped that the parts may be separated by a sharp pull, the outer section being grasped, as described, and the inner section being pulled by means of the ring d or whatever member is engaged with the eye c.

A further advantage of the specific strueture hereinbefore described is that if the detachable or outer section b should become accidentally displaced and lost, either due to some accident happening to the wearer of the device or from any other cause, the piece of paper which is coiled within the inner section will ordinarily be retained therein, owing to its resiliency. Therefore the means for identifying the owner of the device does not necessarily become lost if the parts are separated.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I'declare that what I claim is- An identifying device of the character described, adapted to be attached to a'key-ring, the same consisting of two tubular sections adapted to slide one Within the other and each having one end closed and the other open, the inner section being adapted to frictionally hold a coiled piece of paper and having at its closed end means for connection with a keyring, whereby this single section may prevent the loss of said paper if the outer section becomes accidentally detached, said outer section covering substantially the entire length of the inner section, a detachable snap connection being formed between the two sections at a point near the open end of the outer section and the closed end of the inner section.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC L. WILBER. Witnesses:

M. B. MAY, C. C. STECHER. 

